d meet the enemy
like a man. You will never convince me that my duty is to let you go,
to give you up. I can think of nothing so wicked."

These words, which had a joyful sound to which she could not seal her
ears, made Elise stop suddenly, afraid of Albert, afraid of herself.
"I think," she said after a moment, "we had best not walk together
any longer. There is nothing we can say that will satisfy ourselves or
ought to satisfy each other."

"Do you mean that you accept this decision?" said he.

"I promised, Albert. So did you."

"We will not talk about it. But we can at least walk together, Elise.
You need not speak. What you confessed just now is true--you cannot
say anything to the purpose."

So they walked on together. Silently, past all Spenersberg's
dwelling-places they walked, till they came to the cemetery, and
ascending the hill they strolled about that pleasant place among the
graves, and thought, perhaps, How blessed are the dead! and oh to be
lying there in a dreamless sleep beneath the blooming wild roses, and
where dirges were sounding through the cedars day and night! Elise
might have thought thus, but not her companion. He was the last man
to wish to pass from the scene of his successes merely because a great
failure threatened him. Looking upon the slight young figure beside
him and her grave sweet face, a wrathful contempt was aroused within
him that he should have allowed himself to be placed in a situation so
absurd. As they walked down the hill again, he startled his companion
by a merry outbreak. "Tell me you are not mine!" he said: "there never
was a joke like it!"

CHAPTER V.

SISTER BENIGNA.

On her return home Elise found Sister Benigna seated at the piano,
attuning herself, as she said, after her work among the restive
children of her school.

When she looked upon her friend and recalled the bitter words Albert
had spoken against her, Elise felt their injustice. It was true, as
she had told him, he did not understand Sister Benigna.

Sitting down beside the window, Elise began to busy herself over the
dainty basket she was elaborately decorating. After a few moments
Sister Benigna left the piano and stood looking at Elise and her work.
She had something to say, but how should she say it? how approach the
heart which had wrapped itself up in sorrow and surrounded itself with
the guards of silence?

Presently Elise looked at her, but not until she had so long resisted
th